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Fors Clavigera
Fors Clavigera

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Fors Clavigera is here in full — 205 sentences across 41 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Fors Clavigera
Context Illustration Reading 1/41 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.
De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”
According to the Law and the Prophets, He who has perfect charity, Loves God above everything, With heart, with flesh, and with spirit pure.
Him also, our neighbour, we are all in debt To love as ourselves; For one says, Who loves me, loves my dog.
Of such stone, and of such crossbeam, Is in the heavens our house made; For no one can say, ‘It is mine,’ Beyond what he has put into that good, All the rest is taken away.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Fors Clavigera

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Fors Clavigera is here in full — 205 sentences across 41 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.
Line 2
De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”
Line 3
According to the Law and the Prophets, He who has perfect charity, Loves God above everything, With heart, with flesh, and with spirit pure.
/əˈkɔːrdɪŋ tuː ðə lɔː ənd ðə ˈprɑːfəts hiː huː hæz pərˈfekt ˈtʃerɪti lʌvz ɡɑːd əˈbʌv ˈevriθɪŋ wɪð hɑːrt wɪð fleʃ ənd wɪð ˈspɪrət pjʊr/
Line 4
Him also, our neighbour, we are all in debt To love as ourselves; For one says, Who loves me, loves my dog.
/hɪm ˈɔːlsoʊ ˈaʊər ˈneɪbər wiː ɑːr ɔːl ɪn det tuː lʌv æz aʊərˈselvz fɔːr wʌn sez huː lʌvz miː lʌvz maɪ dɔːɡ/
Line 5
Of such stone, and of such crossbeam, Is in the heavens our house made; For no one can say, ‘It is mine,’ Beyond what he has put into that good, All the rest is taken away.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

dire adjective US /daɪr/

fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless

From this reading “De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.””

est noun US /est/

standard time in the 5th time zone west of Greenwich, reckoned at the 75th meridian; used in the eastern United States

From this reading “De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.””

mien noun US /miːn/

dignified manner or conduct

From this reading “De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.””

mis noun US /mɪs/

plural of “mi” — destruction of heart tissue resulting from obstruction of the blood supply to the heart muscle

From this reading “De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.””

mon noun US /moʊn/

the second day of the week; the first working day

From this reading “1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.”

Prophets noun US /ˈprɑːfəts/

the second of three divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures

From this reading “According to the Law and the Prophets, He who has perfect charity, Loves God above everything, With heart, with flesh, and with spirit pure.”

sur noun US /sɜːr/

a port in southern Lebanon on the Mediterranean Sea; formerly a major Phoenician seaport famous for silks

From this reading “1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.”

Tout noun US /taʊt/

someone who buys tickets to an event in order to resell them at a profit

From this reading “De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.””

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

Tout le noun + noun

In this reading “De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.””

put into verb + particle

In this reading “Of such stone, and of such crossbeam, Is in the heavens our house made; For no one can say, ‘It is mine,’ Beyond what he has put into that good, All the rest is taken away.”

in debt preposition + noun

In this reading “Him also, our neighbour, we are all in debt To love as ourselves; For one says, Who loves me, loves my dog.”

in the heavens preposition + article + noun counted as “in … heavens”

In this reading “Of such stone, and of such crossbeam, Is in the heavens our house made; For no one can say, ‘It is mine,’ Beyond what he has put into that good, All the rest is taken away.”

All words in this reading · 122

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

1874

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

1st

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading According to the Law and the Prophets, He who has perfect charity, Loves God above everything, With heart, with flesh, and with spirit pure.

AccordingadjectiveUS /əˈkɔːrdɪŋ/

(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with

From this reading According to the Law and the Prophets, He who has perfect charity, Loves God above everything, With heart, with flesh, and with spirit pure.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Him also, our neighbour, we are all in debt To love as ourselves; For one says, Who loves me, loves my dog.

alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/

in addition

From this reading Him also, our neighbour, we are all in debt To love as ourselves; For one says, Who loves me, loves my dog.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading According to the Law and the Prophets, He who has perfect charity, Loves God above everything, With heart, with flesh, and with spirit pure.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Him also, our neighbour, we are all in debt To love as ourselves; For one says, Who loves me, loves my dog.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Him also, our neighbour, we are all in debt To love as ourselves; For one says, Who loves me, loves my dog.

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Of such stone, and of such crossbeam, Is in the heavens our house made; For no one can say, ‘It is mine,’ Beyond what he has put into that good, All the rest is taken away.

ayme

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

BeyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading Of such stone, and of such crossbeam, Is in the heavens our house made; For no one can say, ‘It is mine,’ Beyond what he has put into that good, All the rest is taken away.

bien

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”

c'est

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Of such stone, and of such crossbeam, Is in the heavens our house made; For no one can say, ‘It is mine,’ Beyond what he has put into that good, All the rest is taken away.

CarnounUS /kɑːr/

a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

From this reading De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”

cenounUS /ˌsiːˈiː/

a ductile grey metallic element of the lanthanide series; used in lighter flints; the most abundant of the rare-earth group

From this reading De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”

Celui

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

charitynounUS /ˈtʃerɪti/

a foundation created to promote the public good (not for assistance to any particular individuals)

From this reading According to the Law and the Prophets, He who has perfect charity, Loves God above everything, With heart, with flesh, and with spirit pure.

charité

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

chien

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

cieulx

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”

Comme

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

crossbeamnoun

a horizontal beam that extends across something

From this reading Of such stone, and of such crossbeam, Is in the heavens our house made; For no one can say, ‘It is mine,’ Beyond what he has put into that good, All the rest is taken away.

cueur

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

d'ame

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

DenounUS /diː/

a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

debtnounUS /det/

the state of owing something (especially money)

From this reading Him also, our neighbour, we are all in debt To love as ourselves; For one says, Who loves me, loves my dog.

debte

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

devons-nous

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

Dieu

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

direadjectiveUS /daɪr/

fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless

From this reading De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”

ditnoun

the shorter of the two telegraphic signals used in Morse code

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

dognounUS /dɔːɡ/

a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds

From this reading Him also, our neighbour, we are all in debt To love as ourselves; For one says, Who loves me, loves my dog.

ennounUS /en/

half the width of an em

From this reading De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”

EstnounUS /est/

standard time in the 5th time zone west of Greenwich, reckoned at the 75th meridian; used in the eastern United States

From this reading De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”

et

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading According to the Law and the Prophets, He who has perfect charity, Loves God above everything, With heart, with flesh, and with spirit pure.

faicte

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”

fleshnounUS /fleʃ/

the soft tissue of the body of a vertebrate: mainly muscle tissue and fat

From this reading According to the Law and the Prophets, He who has perfect charity, Loves God above everything, With heart, with flesh, and with spirit pure.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Him also, our neighbour, we are all in debt To love as ourselves; For one says, Who loves me, loves my dog.

forcenounUS /fɔːrs/

a powerful effect or influence

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

Fors

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”

GodnounUS /ɡɑːd/

the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions

From this reading According to the Law and the Prophets, He who has perfect charity, Loves God above everything, With heart, with flesh, and with spirit pure.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading Of such stone, and of such crossbeam, Is in the heavens our house made; For no one can say, ‘It is mine,’ Beyond what he has put into that good, All the rest is taken away.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading According to the Law and the Prophets, He who has perfect charity, Loves God above everything, With heart, with flesh, and with spirit pure.

HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading According to the Law and the Prophets, He who has perfect charity, Loves God above everything, With heart, with flesh, and with spirit pure.

heartnounUS /hɑːrt/

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading According to the Law and the Prophets, He who has perfect charity, Loves God above everything, With heart, with flesh, and with spirit pure.

heavensnounUS /ˈhevənz/

the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected

From this reading Of such stone, and of such crossbeam, Is in the heavens our house made; For no one can say, ‘It is mine,’ Beyond what he has put into that good, All the rest is taken away.

HimpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Him also, our neighbour, we are all in debt To love as ourselves; For one says, Who loves me, loves my dog.

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Of such stone, and of such crossbeam, Is in the heavens our house made; For no one can say, ‘It is mine,’ Beyond what he has put into that good, All the rest is taken away.

IlnounUS /ɪl/

a midwestern state in north-central United States

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Of such stone, and of such crossbeam, Is in the heavens our house made; For no one can say, ‘It is mine,’ Beyond what he has put into that good, All the rest is taken away.

Isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Of such stone, and of such crossbeam, Is in the heavens our house made; For no one can say, ‘It is mine,’ Beyond what he has put into that good, All the rest is taken away.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Of such stone, and of such crossbeam, Is in the heavens our house made; For no one can say, ‘It is mine,’ Beyond what he has put into that good, All the rest is taken away.

JanuarynounUS /ˈdʒænjuːeri/

the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

lanounUS /lɑː/

a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

LawnounUS /lɔː/

the collection of rules imposed by authority

From this reading According to the Law and the Prophets, He who has perfect charity, Loves God above everything, With heart, with flesh, and with spirit pure.

lenounUS /lə/

a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints)

From this reading De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading Him also, our neighbour, we are all in debt To love as ourselves; For one says, Who loves me, loves my dog.

LovesnounUS /lʌvz/

plural of “love” — a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading According to the Law and the Prophets, He who has perfect charity, Loves God above everything, With heart, with flesh, and with spirit pure.

loy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

ly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Of such stone, and of such crossbeam, Is in the heavens our house made; For no one can say, ‘It is mine,’ Beyond what he has put into that good, All the rest is taken away.

maison

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Him also, our neighbour, we are all in debt To love as ourselves; For one says, Who loves me, loves my dog.

merrien

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”

miennounUS /miːn/

dignified manner or conduct

From this reading De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”

minepronounUS /maɪn/

the one or ones belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Of such stone, and of such crossbeam, Is in the heavens our house made; For no one can say, ‘It is mine,’ Beyond what he has put into that good, All the rest is taken away.

misnounUS /mɪs/

plural of “mi” — destruction of heart tissue resulting from obstruction of the blood supply to the heart muscle

From this reading De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”

monnounUS /moʊn/

the second day of the week; the first working day

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Him also, our neighbour, we are all in debt To love as ourselves; For one says, Who loves me, loves my dog.

nenounUS /niː/

a colorless odorless gaseous element that give a red glow in a vacuum tube; one of the six inert gasses; occurs in the air in small amounts

From this reading De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”

neighbournounUS /ˈneɪbər/

a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading Him also, our neighbour, we are all in debt To love as ourselves; For one says, Who loves me, loves my dog.

nette

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Of such stone, and of such crossbeam, Is in the heavens our house made; For no one can say, ‘It is mine,’ Beyond what he has put into that good, All the rest is taken away.

nostre

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”

nulz

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”

OfprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Of such stone, and of such crossbeam, Is in the heavens our house made; For no one can say, ‘It is mine,’ Beyond what he has put into that good, All the rest is taken away.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Him also, our neighbour, we are all in debt To love as ourselves; For one says, Who loves me, loves my dog.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Him also, our neighbour, we are all in debt To love as ourselves; For one says, Who loves me, loves my dog.

ourselvespronounUS /aʊərˈselvz/

used when we are both doing the action and receiving it

From this reading Him also, our neighbour, we are all in debt To love as ourselves; For one says, Who loves me, loves my dog.

parfaicte

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

perfectadjectiveUS /pərˈfekt/

being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish

From this reading According to the Law and the Prophets, He who has perfect charity, Loves God above everything, With heart, with flesh, and with spirit pure.

peut

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”

pierrenounUS /piˈer/

capital of the state of South Dakota; located in central South Dakota on the Missouri river

From this reading De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”

prochain

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

prophetes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

ProphetsnounUS /ˈprɑːfəts/

the second of three divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures

From this reading According to the Law and the Prophets, He who has perfect charity, Loves God above everything, With heart, with flesh, and with spirit pure.

pureadjectiveUS /pjʊr/

free of extraneous elements of any kind

From this reading According to the Law and the Prophets, He who has perfect charity, Loves God above everything, With heart, with flesh, and with spirit pure.

putverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Of such stone, and of such crossbeam, Is in the heavens our house made; For no one can say, ‘It is mine,’ Beyond what he has put into that good, All the rest is taken away.

qu'il

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”

Qu'on

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

Qui

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

remenant

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”

restverbUS /rest/

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading Of such stone, and of such crossbeam, Is in the heavens our house made; For no one can say, ‘It is mine,’ Beyond what he has put into that good, All the rest is taken away.

retraicte

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”

rien

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading Of such stone, and of such crossbeam, Is in the heavens our house made; For no one can say, ‘It is mine,’ Beyond what he has put into that good, All the rest is taken away.

saysnounUS /sez/

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading Him also, our neighbour, we are all in debt To love as ourselves; For one says, Who loves me, loves my dog.

Selon

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

sonnounUS /sʌn/

a male human offspring

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

soy-mesmes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

spiritnounUS /ˈspɪrət/

the vital principle or animating force within living things

From this reading According to the Law and the Prophets, He who has perfect charity, Loves God above everything, With heart, with flesh, and with spirit pure.

stonenounUS /stoʊn/

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading Of such stone, and of such crossbeam, Is in the heavens our house made; For no one can say, ‘It is mine,’ Beyond what he has put into that good, All the rest is taken away.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Of such stone, and of such crossbeam, Is in the heavens our house made; For no one can say, ‘It is mine,’ Beyond what he has put into that good, All the rest is taken away.

surnounUS /sɜːr/

a port in southern Lebanon on the Mediterranean Sea; formerly a major Phoenician seaport famous for silks

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading Of such stone, and of such crossbeam, Is in the heavens our house made; For no one can say, ‘It is mine,’ Beyond what he has put into that good, All the rest is taken away.

tel

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Of such stone, and of such crossbeam, Is in the heavens our house made; For no one can say, ‘It is mine,’ Beyond what he has put into that good, All the rest is taken away.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading According to the Law and the Prophets, He who has perfect charity, Loves God above everything, With heart, with flesh, and with spirit pure.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading According to the Law and the Prophets, He who has perfect charity, Loves God above everything, With heart, with flesh, and with spirit pure.

tous

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

ToutnounUS /taʊt/

someone who buys tickets to an event in order to resell them at a profit

From this reading De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”

toute

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 1st January, 1874 “Selon la loy, et ly prophetes, Qui a charité parfaicte Il ayme Dieu sur toute rien De cueur, de force, et d’ame nette; Celui devons-nous tous de debte Comme soy-mesmes, son prochain; Qu’on dit qui in ayme, ayme mon chien.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Him also, our neighbour, we are all in debt To love as ourselves; For one says, Who loves me, loves my dog.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Of such stone, and of such crossbeam, Is in the heavens our house made; For no one can say, ‘It is mine,’ Beyond what he has put into that good, All the rest is taken away.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading According to the Law and the Prophets, He who has perfect charity, Loves God above everything, With heart, with flesh, and with spirit pure.

WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading According to the Law and the Prophets, He who has perfect charity, Loves God above everything, With heart, with flesh, and with spirit pure.

ès

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading De tel pierre, et de tel merrien Est ès cieulx nostre maison faicte Car nulz ne peut dire, ‘c’est mien,’ Fors ce qu’il a mis en ce bien; Tout le remenant est retraicte.”

Chapter 1 of Fors Clavigera by John Ruskin holds 205 sentences, grouped into 41 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 1 of Fors Clavigera contain?

Chapter 1 holds 205 sentences of Fors Clavigera, unabridged, divided into 41 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Fors Clavigera by John Ruskin exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 205 sentences, grouped into 41 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 1 of Fors Clavigera?

Work through the 41 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 41 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading Fors Clavigera

Common questions about reading Fors Clavigera by John Ruskin on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Fors Clavigera?

Yes. All 2689 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #67544 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Fors Clavigera is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #67544, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Fors Clavigera take to read?

About 224 minutes of reading across 538 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Fors Clavigera section by section

How to work through Fors Clavigera section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 12 chapters of Fors Clavigera to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Fors Clavigera

Words and structures a reader meets early in Fors Clavigera, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

January
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Fors Clavigera; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Selon
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Fors Clavigera; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Prophetes
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Fors Clavigera; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Charit
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Fors Clavigera; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.